Waterkloof

My activities partner pulled out all the stops this Valentines day by taking me to Waterkloof for a great evening of fine dining and a mind blowing view. Waterkloof has been on our bucket list for ages now but we rarely venture out to the Somerset-West area. 

Situated high up in the mountains of the Sir Lowry's pass Village road the beautiful glass face restaurant gives you great view over the Gordon's bay/Strand area. 

 

In the open plan kitchen you can see chef Gregory Czarnecki and his team systematically at work on all the great dishes.

As it was Valentines day we were treated to a set menu. The prices for other times are R260 for a two course or R340 for a three course.

 The whole evening started off with a glass of champagne on the terrace to enjoy the great view. This is also a great spot to come and enjoy some wine-tasting .
 

The feasting started with a complimentary starter of a watermelon gepascho served with cream cheese balls and a Parmesan tweal. This was a delicious fresh start to the evening and the boyfriend raved about this first course.

Next was Congolio rabbit rillettes served with rhubarb relish and pickled vegetables. I have never tried rabbit before but I actually really enjoyed it. It tastes like chicken but only sweeter. The sweetness of the dish was balanced with the sourness that accompanied the pickled vegetables.  
 

Cured Fizantakraal trout served with root vegetables and horseradish was our next course. This was another fresh dish perfect for a summer's evening.
 

The one dish we were not fond of was the porcini custard served with rocket pesto and a crispy quail egg. The balance was off between the amount of custard and the crispy quail egg. The dish needed another crispy element to complement the porcini custard.

Luckily the team redeemed themselves again with delicious monkfish served with a crisp zucchini flower, samp and a lobster bisque. The lobster bisque was out of this world. It was a very rich element that suited the fresh monkish perfectly. I had to prevent myself from licking the plate :)
 

The winner of the evening however was the Magalisberg duck breast served with a mango cream, burned leeks, red pepper dust and a soya reduction. This is the dish that will guarantee my return to Waterkloof. The duck breast was so succulent and that soya reduction was out of this world.

To end off the evening we enjoyed a white chocolate cheesecake parfait served with kir royal pear and raspberries.We paired our food with a bottle of Cicumstance Viognier. It was a very aromatic wine yet very refreshing for a summer's evening.

Special touches to the evening was a photographer who took some picture and printed them out for us to take home as well as a box of macaroons. A violinist also ensured a great ambiance throughout the evening.

The hostess and waiters were very friendly but I do think that some logistics were not 100% during the evening. The waiting time in between courses were not constant as some dishes came very quickly and others took too long to arrive. It was also inconsistent between the different tables.

If you want to give the gourmet food a skip be sure to put Waterkloof on you wine-tasting bucket list. You can taste 6 wine for R30/R40 depending on what range you want to enjoy. Pair this with a delicious cheese or ploughman platter and come and enjoy the majestic view!

Visit their website for more information

Open Monday-Sunday for lunch(Kitchen closes at 14:00) and Monday-Saturday for dinner(Kitchen closes at 21:00)

Contact them at 021 858 1491

Located at Sir Lowry's Pass Road, Somerset West

Take note that the  restaurant will be closed from the 16th June-16th July for their annual winter break.

Peter's House

I've been driving past Peter's House for many months and always wanted to visit. The fact their logo is a bunny also fuelled my desire as I am obsessed with bunnies! The concept of the restaurant is a combination of Peter Rabbit and your grandmothers kitchen. The decor is quirky and vibrant and they have great events during the week:

• Monday is Mac&Cheese night for R25 from 18:00
• Tuesday is quiz night . Four people a team, R40 pp and it includes a bottle of wine.
• Wednesday is Hump day where you get two pastas and two glasses of wine for R130.

Some of the pasta dishes available

Bric and brac decorates the space

Loads of fun events for all to enjoy

I know they make a great carrot cake(R25) but we were there for a late lunch the Saturday afternoon. I enjoyed a delicious pasta that consisted out of a tomato based sauce served with a variety of vegetables and topped with feta cheese(R65). My friend had the  mushroom risotto(R70). Funnily enough we actually preferred each other dishes. I loved how rich and tasty the mushroom risotto was. The flavor of the mushrooms were very evident and it definitely was not a stodgy mess as most risottos usually turn out in restaurants.

Delicious pasta



Yummy risotto

Peter's House also serves a great breakfast Saturdays and Sundays. Think waffles topped with yummy ice-cream from The Creamery.

I would recommend Peter's House of you want a hearty affordable meal in a very homey environment. This is a great place to catch up with friends!


Located at 14 Kloof Nek Road, Cape Town
Contact them at 021 424 3451
Visit their website for more information
Follow them @Peters_House
Free Wi-Fi: :)

Arugula Bistro

I discovered one of the best specials recently at Arugula Bistro in Welgemoed. Located in a shoppingmall I expected Arugula to not have atmosphere and be predictable. I was definitely proven wrong. I met a friend there for dinner and we were very impressed. The view was great too!

Inside the restaurant

Open plan kitchen

Now to get to the special. For R240 you receive 2 camembert or cheddar burgers served with thick cut chips and a spicy salsa. You can also choose between a bottle of Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc or a red blend . End off your meal with a scoop of ice-cream each. We enjoyed the salted caramel and peppermint crisp flavors but there are many interesting others to choose from.

Picture borrowed from Arugula's Facebook page! Yum!!

If you can't visit them on a Monday then go and enjoy their selection of pastas, porkbelly, beef fillet or sirloin,seafood and interesting salads. They also host food and wine parings. Check out their Facebook for more information.

Service was extremely friendly and efficient!

What a nice surprise in the Notheren suburbs. Just proves that you don't always have to venture out into the city to enjoy great food. I can't wait to go back!

Visit them for

• Breakfast: Monday-Sunday 08:00-11:30
• Lunch: Monday - Sunday 12:00-15:30
• Dinner: Monday - Saturday 18:30-22:00

Contact them at 021 913 6906 or info@arugulabistro.co.za
Located at shop 18, welgemoedforum, cnr Jip de Jager and Kommisariss street, Welgemoed, Belville
Check out their website and Facebook